Route Miles: 110
Total Miles: 884.9
Miles to go: 79 (est.)
My last night in a YHA on this trip didn't yield much sleep. Had the bottom bunk in a twenty bed dorm., with lots of noisy comings and goings and the human background music again played its part. Half asleep I stumbled into the shower room the next morning, passing a girl coming out. Wrongly assumed it was unisex and got showered and dried with no interruption. As I came out I took notice of the sign and to my horror saw it was female only. Oh well, the girl I passed must have given notice to others as there were no embarrassing moments.
Did the morning routine bike check i.e. rubbing down with a dry cloth, ensuring all the bolts especially the pannier ones are tight with an allen key, lubricating the chain, sprockets, brake cantilevers and front/rear mech. with GT85 spray, checking the brakes then finally inspecting the tyres to make sure fully inflated and nothing sharp on the treads, also feeling the spoke tension. On the last job I discovered a broken spoke and cursed. Couldn't take the chance of riding my longest stage with a weakened back wheel so I found a bike shop in Fort William who had it all fixed and true by 10.45. I had hoped to get away 2 hours earlier to make Dornoch (at least 100 miles away) in good time. However, it wasn't to be and I put down a fast pace only stopping at the Commando Memorial in Spean Bridge and also at Fort Augustus for food. The road alongside Loch Ness was undulating to say the least and I got to Inverness at 16.15 just as rush hour was starting on the A9, still with 40 miles to go. Took a couple of minor back roads going through the Black Isle but had no choice but to return to the A9. Had a challenging couple of hours deciding whether to break off before Dornoch but after switching on my lights at 18.30 got into a good rhythm and made my destination for 19.45 in near pitch black and stayed in a room above a pub.
With the delayed start and the long mileage, I found this the most difficult but satisfying day. I was also able to draw upon my training ride to Milton Keynes and back.
